Apogee GTX custom plexi top

[ColonelCain]

Yeah, that top with the LED looks sick as hell... It would take the aluminum problem out...

[NaeKuh]

Yeah, that top with the LED looks sick as hell... It would take the aluminum problem out...

and you would never be able to bow the block.

And you wouldnt get the full advantages of having a bowed GTX.


Blah, the copper one is a different story tho. I definitely would love to get my hands on that. Or a brass top.

[virtualrain]

and you would never be able to bow the block.

And you wouldnt get the full advantages of having a bowed GTX.


Blah, the copper one is a different story tho. I definitely would love to get my hands on that. Or a brass top.

Nickel plated brass or copper FTW!

Unless he slaps on the top, calls it something else, and sells the block as a whole - he isn't doing anything wrong.

Even then, I'm not sure that's a problem. Aren't Liang pumps sold with aftermarket tops as a rebranded product by Koolance, Alphacool, Watercool, etc.?

[Locke]

I don't understand what IP rights would be violated by selling a top? How would this be any different than any other aftermarket parts. I am going to replace the starter on my car tomorrow, you think Ford is going to sue Bosch for making it?

Unless he slaps on the top, calls it something else, and sells the block as a whole - he isn't doing anything wrong.

Yeah you have a point. Its really up to the controller of the IP whether to file a civil suit based on merit. A top directly copied should have some level of merit from a design or visual standpoint. But if enough changes were made, than the suit would loose merit.

Also in regards to the design its only a top and therefore Swiftech would most likely not want to file suit due to the fact that you still have to buy the GTX to begin with so there is conceivebly no lost funds. The might want to sue base on defamation, where the aftermarket top could be giving them a bad name.

Alot of mass marketed auto parts are made with the blessing of the auto manufacturer and even supported, but the fitting of the part is the burden of the after market amnufacturer as the auto guys will enver release their CAD info on any of their cars. Also the aftermarket car parts are not replicating the actual parts but are replacing them so no real IP is being tread upon.

THe biggest law suit now is between didge and geico. Geico is so large that they make there own parts to replace damaged ones cause in accidents. THeir parts are $125 compared to Dodge's $450. Big saving to Geico, but Dodgne isnt about it and its been like 12 year law suit.

[quiet]

A better example would be customized Xbox 360 cases. I see these selling for $50-300 each. Microsoft sues anyone and everything they can, for any reason. If Microsoft had a leg to stand on, these guys would be out of business.

[kamongear]

A better example would be customized Xbox 360 cases. I see these selling for $50-300 each. Microsoft sues anyone and everything they can, for any reason. If Microsoft had a leg to stand on, these guys would be out of business.

Why would microsoft not want to have people sell those cases?

People who use them lose their warrantee which means more $'s for MS.

[quiet]

This isn't about making money, it's about protecting intellectual property

[quiet]

In any case, if this guy actually mass produced and sold the top, and Swiftech actually did something to stop him - Their company would look like the RIAA of the modding community. This is an entire industry built around customizing anything and everything. They would be nuts to try and get in the way

[kinghong1970]

This isn't about making money, it's about protecting intellectual property

and making sure that the statue of limitations is still in effect...

if a trademark, patent, or a copyright has been violated and left as such, the company eventually will loose ability to enforce their rights if a certain amount of time passes...

hence major brands go hunting here and there... for counterfeiting...

if you/your brand is imitated, it is a good thing... because your product is wanted... and these brands do understand the PR value of counterfeits/knockoffs and such... but they still have to release their legal dogs out once in a while...

[alejo]

Eh, to heck with IP.

Anyway...

Finished!

[nealh]

Well, I've toyed around with the idea... but, considering the quantity that I would need to have machined to make it cost effective and/or resellable at a reasonable price, it's just not something that I can see happening.

How expensive..even though theer is good plating I would still prefer and pay for copper/brass

[FischOderAal]

From the looks of it, they may just be making replacement tops, not entire blocks; so anyone using it would need to have purchased a GTX already. But then again, I don't speak german so I'm just going off of the pictures.

you're right. up to now they concentrate on coolers for mainboards. I'll get one for my P5W, too

they've taken notice of this thread as well

[MaxxxRacer]

acrylic top is a no no. better off with the nickel/zinc plated aluminum top.

[alejo]

you're right. up to now they concentrate on coolers for mainboards. I'll get one for my P5W, too

they've taken notice of this thread as well

If they're reading this, then they should know that they make really nice, impressive stuff. I have a lot of respect for people with the skills and knowhow to create things like this.

I wish I could do things like that instead of the typical "cram your Mountainmods/Lian Li case with expensive stuff" watercooling that is prevalent (and that I'm guilty of as well.)

As for Petra making tops, maybe it would be cheaper if we all pitched in and got him a lathe, CNC machine and sent him to trade school for a year.

[Anemone]

Because of cracking MaxR? That was one issue I thought of that comes up here a lot. The 2nd issue would be that metal expands with heat at a more similar rate than acrylic which might be connected in turn with the cracking.

$.02

[FischOderAal]

acrylic top is a no no. better off with the nickel/zinc plated aluminum top.

why? all my coolers have acrylic tops they usually don't break or something

[Petra]

As for Petra making tops, maybe it would be cheaper if we all pitched in and got him a lathe, CNC machine and sent him to trade school for a year.

LOL!

As cool as that would be, Quoc would probably prefer that I didn't spend all of my time prototyping everything imaginable... Granted, if you guys really do think that getting rid of 300 Delrin and/or brass Apogee GTX tops wouldn't be an issue, then I may start tinkering in Solidworks to see what I can come up with...

[FischOderAal]

Because of cracking MaxR? That was one issue I thought of that comes up here a lot. The 2nd issue would be that metal expands with heat at a more similar rate than acrylic which might be connected in turn with the cracking.

$.02

I'd take expanding into account when you want to use a chiller. I've seen some coolers with acrylic-tops cracking, because the temperature difference was too high.

delta L = alphat * delta T * L

L: Length
delta T: difference in Temperature
alphat: temperature coefficient, which is for copper 0,0000618 1/°C or 1/°K

if you use them in a normal wc setup, they're not likely to crack.

[kamongear]

This isn't about making money, it's about protecting intellectual property

Someone who would have bought those cases would have opened the 360 anyway.

[welshtom]

Yup, was thinking this myself the other week when I was discussing with a shop owner about more custom products and we brought up some plastics other than delrin that may look great also.

He had the idea of just doing tops, in order to walk before running I guess and I straight away thought about the GTX as had one sat next to me.

I'm up for it.

Someone get me designs over and lets mass produce these eh?

[Mekrel]

I'm up for it.

Someone get me designs over and lets mass produce these eh?

Firing up autocad next week then

[gabe]

How expensive..even though theer is good plating I would still prefer and pay for copper/brass

All Copper GTX ?
If we made it, I'd say your'e probably looking at a $100 water-block.

Wouldn't you rather get a Drive for the same price instead?

Same performance, and you get a pump on top of it..

[_G_]

All Copper GTX ?
If we made it, I'd say your'e probably looking at a $100 water-block.

Wouldn't you rather get a Drive for the same price instead?

Same performance, and you get a pump on top of it..

figuratively and literally

[ranker]

All Copper GTX ?
If we made it, I'd say your'e probably looking at a $100 water-block.

Wouldn't you rather get a Drive for the same price instead?

Same performance, and you get a pump on top of it..

I'd have paid a $100 easily for an all copper GTX. Remember that us enthusiasts are willing to go the extra mile to pay for any perceived performance gain and/or peace of mind for having no alu at all.

If you've got one right now, let me know as my credit card's ready.

[gabe]

Firing up autocad next week then

You guys seriously think that I am going to allow anyone to rip-off my design?